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Defence Forces Recruitment.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2004

Wednesday, 17 November 2004

Questions (563)

David Stanton

Question:

604 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the policy regarding the enlisting of persons in the Permanent Defence Force or the Reserve or persons who have had criminal offences and who have either served their time or paid fines imposed by a court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28641/04]

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Written answers

The policy regarding the enlistment in the Defence Forces of persons who have had criminal offences and who have either served their time or paid fines imposed by a court, is governed by Defence Forces regulations.

In this regard, Defence Forces regulations stipulate that the following persons will not be enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force: a person who has been convicted of a serious offence by a civil court; a person who has been convicted by a special criminal court of a scheduled offence under the Offences Against the State Act 1939, unless: (i) a period of seven years has elapsed since the date of the conviction, or (ii) a free pardon has been granted in respect of such conviction, or (iii) the disqualification incurred as a result of such conviction, from holding office or employment remunerated out of public funds has been remitted by the Government under subsection (5) of section 34 of the said Act.

Defence Forces regulations also stipulate that a person who has been convicted of a serious offence by the Special Criminal Court or by a civil court shall be ineligible for enlistment in the Reserve Defence Force.

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